Northwest Nazarene University

Northwest Nazarene University – Commencement & Academic Regalia Summary

Northwest Nazarene University (NNU), located in Nampa, Idaho, hosts an annual Commencement ceremony each spring — and sometimes graduation‑weekend events — for eligible graduates who have completed all degree requirements and been cleared for participation.

At NNU, academic‑regalia requirements follow traditional conventions. The type of gown depends on degree level: bachelor’s gowns feature pointed sleeves; master’s gowns use oblong‑cut sleeves; doctoral gowns (when offered) use the standard bell‑sleeve design with velvet panels. Graduates are instructed to wear the mortarboard cap so the flat board is parallel to the floor, with no decorations, flowers, notes, or other adornments allowed on the gown or cap.

For students earning advanced degrees (master’s or higher), NNU uses an academic hood. The hood’s velvet border identifies the field of learning corresponding to the graduate’s discipline, and the length of the hood indicates the level of degree. The interior lining of the hood reflects NNU’s institutional colors (red and black).

Honor cords and stoles are permitted for recognized academic honor societies and special student groups. NNU publicly specifies multiple color combinations with corresponding societies: for example, gold cords for members of the psychology honor society, purple & gold for business‑honors society members, blue & white for counseling honor society, forest green & ivory for physics honor society, and red stoles for ordained ministers. Additionally, academic‑level honors are recognized via honor cords: cum laude (white), magna cum laude (silver), summa cum laude (gold).

As for discipline‑based regalia colors (velvet hood trim, tassels, etc.), NNU’s publicly available documentation — including the official graduation info page and the regalia PDF guidelines — indicates that hood velvet color identifies the academic field, but the full publicly published hood‑color chart (mapping all possible disciplines to velvet colors) is not included in accessible materials. Thus, while the framework for academic regalia is defined, detailed color‑by‑discipline specifications appear to be managed internally, and are not broadly advertised online.

In summary: Northwest Nazarene University’s commencement ceremonies require approved academic regalia — cap, gown, and for graduate‑level degrees, a hood. Gown style varies by degree level; hoods reflect institutional red & black lining and velvet trim denoting discipline. Honor cords and stoles are allowed for honor societies, GPA honors, or special statuses (e.g. ministry). While hood velvet color indicates academic field, NNU does not publicly publish a comprehensive discipline‑to‑color chart accessible online, so precise color expectations beyond honor cords should be confirmed with NNU’s Registrar or Bookstore.

Amazon‑Style / Google‑Store‑Style Listing (HTML – Regalia Summary for NNU)

• Official Graduation Gown & Cap Required: All NNU graduates participating in Commencement must wear approved academic regalia: gown, mortarboard cap/tam, and (for graduate degrees) hood.
• Gown Design by Degree Level: ‑ Bachelor’s: pointed‑sleeve gown; ‑ Master’s: oblong‑sleeve gown; ‑ Doctoral (if offered): bell‑sleeve gown with velvet panels.
• Hood & Discipline‑Based Velvet Trim: Graduate and professional‑degree recipients receive a hood. Velvet border of the hood identifies academic field; hood lining shows NNU’s institutional colors (red & black).
• Honor Cords & Stoles Allowed: Students may wear honor cords and stoles awarded by recognized societies or campus organizations. Examples: gold cords for psychology honor society; purple & gold for business honors; blue & white for counseling honor society; forest green & ivory for physics honor society; red stoles for ordained ministers.
• Latin‑Honors Cords by GPA: GPA‑based honors recipients earn cords: cum laude (white), magna cum laude (silver), summa cum laude (gold).
• No Public Full Color Chart for Disciplines: NNU does not publish a complete public mapping of all academic disciplines to velvet‑trim or hood colors; precise hood/tassel color for less‑common majors must be confirmed directly.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Northwest Nazarene University, you can reach out directly to the college's administration or the office responsible for commencement and student services. They can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding academic regalia.